Gore bowler impresses national judges

At Bowls New Zealand’s on-line annual assembly on Saturday it was introduced Bagrie-Howley has received the male participant of the yr award.

Bagrie-Howley mentioned he had an inkling he was within the operating for the title after a profitable season.

“It’s fairly cool to get it confirmed.”

He had made the finals of 4 nationwide competitions this yr and “received two, misplaced two”.

He additionally received the Southland centre triples, the Southland interclub sevens, the Southland centre singles, and the Southland champion of champion pairs, including as much as a tally of 21 centre profession titles.

“I’m catching as much as being one of many folks with probably the most.

“I solely need to get one other six to equal it.”

Successful the nationwide single’s title was the spotlight of the yr, he mentioned.

He was very grateful for the help of the Mataura Licensing Belief and the individuals who supported him.

In asserting Bagrie-Howley’s win on its web site, Bowls New Zealand mentioned regardless of many worthy candidates for the title, the Gore bowler had impressed the judges probably the most.

In January, when Bagrie-Howley received the nationwide single’s title, he was the primary participant not solely from the Gore Bowling Membership but additionally from Southland to win the 108-year-old event.

“None of his opponents even reached double figures within the first-to-21 video games, and he went by six post-section video games to lastly win the ultimate 21-15 in opposition to former world champion Shannon McIlroy.”

Just lately he has performed within the Blackjacks triples and fours groups that competed within the 2023 World Bowls Championship in Australia. The fours crew completed with the bronze medal.

He additionally made it by to the world champion of champions singles quarterfinals.

“It’s been an awesome yr for Sheldon, noticeably on the inexperienced, however even a lot much less noticeably off the inexperienced the place he helps, evokes, motivates and coaxes the bowls group round him.

“He has change into a talisman for Gore. And for Southland. And now New Zealand.”

 – By Sandy Eggleston